Certified Business Ethics and Integrity Specialist
A specialist qualification covering business ethics, codes of conduct, conflicts of interest, whistleblowing, integrity due diligence and the governance structures that embed ethical culture across an organisation.
What This Certification Covers
The Certified Business Ethics and Integrity Specialist certification equips professionals with the specialised knowledge and skills needed to design, implement and evaluate organisational ethics and integrity programmes, promote responsible professional conduct, and prevent misconduct, corruption and conflicts of interest within financial institutions, corporations, government bodies and non-profit organisations.
The certification develops participants' ability to analyse ethical dilemmas and make sound professional decisions, draft codes of conduct and ethics policies, manage whistleblowing mechanisms and investigate reports, and measure and develop organisational culture. It emphasises practical application and case studies, compliance with international anti-bribery and anti-corruption standards, and linking ethics with governance, sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
Like every ACS credential, the CBEIS is awarded only after a formal assessment of defined qualification outcomes — evaluating understanding, application and professional judgement, not attendance alone.
What You Will Be Able to Do
- Understand the core concepts and theories of business ethics and their role in organisational sustainability
- Design and effectively implement organisational ethics and integrity programmes and codes of conduct
- Analyse ethical dilemmas and apply structured frameworks for sound professional decision-making
- Manage the risks of conflicts of interest, bribery, corruption and workplace misconduct
- Manage whistleblowing mechanisms, protect whistleblowers and investigate ethics complaints
- Measure and strengthen organisational culture and link ethics with governance and sustainability
The CBEIS Programme in 8 Modules
01Business Ethics Concepts and Foundations5 topics
- The concept of business ethics and integrity and its importance to organisations
- Ethical theories and schools of thought and their application in the workplace
- The relationship between ethics, law and compliance
- Organisational values and stakeholders
- The cost of ethical failures and lessons from global corporate scandals
02International Frameworks and Standards for Integrity and Anti-Corruption6 topics
- The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)
- OECD Guidelines
- International anti-bribery legislation (FCPA, UK Bribery Act)
- Anti-bribery management systems standard (ISO 37001)
- The UN Global Compact and its principles
- National integrity and transparency frameworks
03Designing Organisational Ethics and Integrity Programmes6 topics
- Elements of an effective ethics and integrity programme
- Drafting and updating the code of professional conduct
- Supporting policies: gifts and hospitality, donations and sponsorships
- Integrity and corruption risk assessment
- Due diligence on third parties, suppliers and partners
- Governance, roles and responsibilities for programme management
04Managing Conflicts of Interest and Professional Conduct5 topics
- Types of conflicts of interest: actual, potential and perceived
- Mechanisms for disclosing and managing conflicts of interest
- Preventing bribery, embezzlement and abuse of influence
- Misuse of confidential information and organisational assets
- Harassment, discrimination and a safe and respectful workplace
05Ethical Decision-Making and Professional Dilemmas5 topics
- Ethical decision-making frameworks and methodologies
- Analysing ethical dilemmas in the business environment
- Behavioural and psychological factors driving unethical conduct
- Organisational pressures and incentives and their impact on decisions
- Practical applications and case studies on ethical dilemmas
06Whistleblowing and Ethics Investigations6 topics
- Designing and managing whistleblowing channels
- Protecting whistleblowers and preventing retaliation
- Receiving, assessing and classifying complaints
- Methodologies for investigating ethics violations and preserving evidence
- Disciplinary and corrective measures and procedural fairness
- Organisational learning from violations and addressing root causes
07Organisational Culture and Ethical Leadership6 topics
- Tone from the top and the role of middle management
- Building a speak-up culture
- Measuring ethical culture through surveys and indicators
- Designing ethics training and awareness programmes
- Linking performance and incentives to ethical conduct
- The board's role in overseeing ethics and integrity
08Ethics, Sustainability and Emerging Challenges6 topics
- Ethics and environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards
- Corporate social responsibility and human rights in supply chains
- Ethics of artificial intelligence, data and privacy
- Transparency, disclosure and integrity reporting
- Evaluating the effectiveness of ethics programmes and continuous improvement
- The future of organisational ethics in the digital transformation era
Built for These Roles
- Ethics and integrity officers
- Compliance and anti-bribery and corruption officers
- Human resources managers and professional conduct specialists
- Risk, audit and internal control managers
- Governance officers and board secretaries
- Legal advisors and internal investigators
- Sustainability and corporate social responsibility (ESG) officers
- Staff of government bodies and integrity and anti-corruption commissions
- Leaders and managers seeking to strengthen ethical leadership in their organisations
How the CBEIS Is Assessed
- 01
The exam is administered through an accredited testing centre
- 02
The computer-based exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions
- 03
Passing score: 70%
- 04
Exam duration: 3 hours
Unless otherwise stated, candidates must achieve a minimum assessment score of 70%. Full entry requirements and the certification process are listed on the Certifications.
Start the CBEIS Certification
Registration opens on a rolling basis through ACS or an authorised ACS centre. Reach out and our team will walk you through eligibility, registration and assessment windows.
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